[Right Wing Professor]

I saw the marbles a couple of years ago. They looked like they were in fine shape; far better cared for than the Parthenon itself. What happened to them 200 years ago is surely irrelevant now.

'Ownership', it seems to me, is rather a nebulous point. The modern Greek state has no historical connection to ancient Athens; nor has modern Egypt any connection to the Rossetta stone. In the British Museum, anyone can go to see both and tons of other loot, free, without danger of being attacked by a religious fanatic. Both are being looked after responsibly; I say leave them there.

[shhrubbery!]

the British Museum, anyone can go to see both and tons of other loot, free, without danger of being attacked by a religious fanatic

Pray it stays that way. Plenty of islamofascists in Britain.

Btw, where do you teach, if you don't mind my asking?

[Aquinasfan]

anyone can go to see both and tons of other loot, free, without danger of being attacked by a religious fanatic.

LOL! Good point.

[Cronos]

I disagree with your point that the modern states have NO connection with their past counterparts. That is erroneous to say the least. These artifacts are considered by the nations they were taken from to be part of their heritage, part of their very core of being.

Why, if the original constitution document was taken by the Brits and displayed in a museum there, we would want it back as it's part of us.